Bar Italia put on a cool, moody and hypnotic performance at the Academy 2
- Michael Bond
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Academy 2 Manchester - 24th March 2026
WORDS / IMAGES MICHAEL BOND
Bar Italia arrive at Manchester Academy 2 with a reputation that travels in fragments rather than headlines. They’re spoken about less in grand declarations and more in subtle tones, cool and elusive, between those who seem to have already tuned into their wavelength. It’s not the usual machinery of hype that surrounds them, but something quieter and arguably more compelling, a sense of discovery, of being let in on something understated yet distinctive. That ambiguity works in their favour, giving their presence a kind of magnetic pull, less about spectacle and more about atmosphere, and suggesting a band whose impact lingers long after the noise has faded.
Support tonight comes from Melbourne based Wet Kiss, as they bring a restless, magnetic energy, setting an intriguing tone ahead of Bar Italia. Their sound feels jagged and deliberate, pairing wiry guitar with throbbing beats and murmured vocals delivered by Brenna O. The band bring a sense of controlled chaos, as their songs twist and stretch without losing focus. The crowd watches closely as they are drawn into the band’s world. At times it feels abrasive as they build a quiet intensity. By the end of the set, Wet Kiss leave a distinct impression, proving themselves a bold and unconventional live act worth following.
By the time Bar Italia take to the stage, the room is full but not feverish. There is an anticipation, but this is tempered by curiosity, how does a band so defined by distance translate that mystique into a live setting? Opening with worlds greatest emoter, a title that feels knowingly ironic given what follows. The sound is immediate and dense, with a tightness that cuts through the venue’s usual muddiness, as vocals drift across the venue, sitting just behind the instruments, reluctant to fully step into the light. It is an arresting start, not because it demands attention, but because it withholds something.
That sense of withholding becomes a defining feature of the set. my little tony and Fundraiser follow in quick succession, both delivered with precision and offhand confidence. The band are tight and accomplished but they resist the instinct to underline their strengths at this early stage. Where another act might push dynamics for impact, Bar Italia keep everything slightly level, slightly restrained, creating a hypnotic effect.
By the time I Make My Own Dust arrives, the atmosphere shifts. The track shows a darker side, with gothic edges creeping into the guitars. Heads start to nod more emphatically, and people’s bodies lean forward, as the band’s aesthetic and the audience’s energy begin to properly align. Between songs, there is little in the way of chat and no attempt to bridge the gap. Creating a deliberate neutrality while underlining their main goal of the evening. They are here to play, not to perform in the traditional sense.
Calm down with me and Horsey Girl Rider extend this middle stretch with a subtle confidence. The interplay between guitars is particularly striking. Loose, controlled, and melodic without slipping into obvious hooks. Highlighting the bands interest in texture and mood rather than momentum and demanding patience from the audience.
That patience is rewarded with rage quit, which injects a sharper edge into the set. With the rhythm section locking in, to drive the song forward with a new sense of purpose, carrying a new weight. The lady vanishes and glory hunter bring things back into a more introspective space. Vocals drift across the instrumentation, occasionally surfacing with a line that catches, then disappearing again into the mix. It is a style that prioritises atmosphere over clarity, adding to the band’s mystique.
Changer and rooster continue in this vein, though the latter introduces a slightly more playful energy, as the band seem to loosen their grip, allowing a hint of spontaneity to creep in. Suggesting that beneath the carefully maintained cool lies a band with space to grow and refine their live performances.
Hi fiver and Nurse! mark another shift, bringing a sharper focus to the set. The songs provide a more structured and direct edge, as the audience respond and begin to move, making the room feel more connected and injecting a noticeable change in temperature.
The closing run of the main set brings possibly the strongest sequence of the night, with punkt, omni shambles, and Eyepatch. Highlighting the band’s strengths, with tight musicianship, layered textures, and understated vocals. Bringing a new confidence, the band play more freely and Nina Cristante dances around the stage, before moving to the pit wall to engage with the crowd. When the band walk off, the crowd show their appreciation and start to chant “one more song” as they wait patiently for them to return.
The encore opens with Some Like It Hot, before moving into Polly Armour, and Cowbella, which lean into a more expansive sound. There is a sense of release here, as if the band are allowing themselves more freedom. What has become clear over the course of the evening is that Bar Italia are operating on their own terms. They are not necessarily interested in the usual markers of live success, Instead, they offer something more oblique, a carefully constructed atmosphere and a sound that invites attention without demanding it.
In a landscape crowded with bands vying for attention, their refusal to “play the game” is refreshing but could create a barrier between artist and the audience. In a venue like Academy 2, the room is small enough to demand connection, yet Bar Italia operate at arm’s length. This doesn’t diminish the experience, but it shapes it in a way that feels deliberate. You leave not with the sense of having been overwhelmed, but of having been part of something carefully controlled, quietly confident, and just a little bit out of reach.
SETLIST
1. world’s greatest emoter
2. My little tony
3. Fundraiser
4. I Make My Own Dust
5. Calm down with me
6. Horsey Girl Rider
7. Rage quit
8. The lady vanishes
9. Glory hunter
10. Changer
11. Rooster
12. Hi fiver
13. Nurse!
14. Punkt
15. Omni shambles
16. Eyepatch
ENCORE
17. Some Like It Hot
18. Polly Armour
19. Cowbella
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